The 50-year-old star - best known for her role in The Royle Family and as cheeky OAP chat show host Mrs Merton - dropped her bombshell as she backed efforts to improve cancer care in her native Manchester.

Although she didn't want to go into details, the Manchester Evening News reports that she is now recovering from the treatment.

Aherne has previously suffered from bladder and eye cancer - having been born with a rare cancer of the retina.

She said: "I've had cancer and my brother's had cancer and we know how it affects people.

"We're lucky in Manchester to have some of the best bits of cancer care with places like The Christie, the Nightingale Centre and the Cecelia Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital and St Ann's Hopice - and the last thing I want to do is knock the fantastic work that goes on in this city.

"It's brilliant that all these big institutions want to make cancer care better for Manchester people, but even the best doctors, nurses and managers on earth aren't going to be able to understand what needs improving unless people affected by cancer in Manchester get involved and tell them what needs to change."

And Nicola Cook from Macmillan Cancer Support said: "We're delighted that Caroline is supporting the partnership. We know that its success hinges on the involvement of people affected by cancer in Manchester. Caroline’s one of Manchester’s own. She’s loved here and people identify with her. We hope that if people see that Caroline is sitting down and talking to us then maybe they’ll know that they can too."

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